Renaissance Timeline

Tommaso Masaccio

Jan 1, 1400

Despite his short life, Masaccio's talent was such that he is often called the Father of Renaissance painting.
Unfortunately not much remains.
The fully restored Brancacci Chapel frescos (Santa Carmine, Firenze) (closed Tuesdays), are a high priority must
- compare for example the emotional power and sense of movement (including shadows) of Massacio's "Expulsion from Eden" with the number opposite by Masolino (himself no slouch and also Masaccio's "master").
"The Trinity" in Santa Maria Novella

Marsilio Ficino

Jan 1, 1433

Devoted his life to the translation and study of the works of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, and the integration of Plato's philosophy into Christian theology. Suppported by the Medici who trucked in Greek texts for him like there was no tomorrow, icino established the Platonic Academy in 1462 in the Medici Villa at Careggi. He produced the first translation of the works of Plato, Plotinus and many others into any European language.

THE PRINTING PRESS

Jan 1, 1450

Printing from moveable metal type was the key technology behind spread of knowledge and philosophy in Europe. Johann Gutenberg (1400 - 1468) set up the first European printing presses in Mainz, Germany, around 1450. By 1473 a printing press is recorded in Spain, and William Caxton started his press up in England in 1476. It's interesting to reflect that popular authors such as Marco Polo (1254-1342), Printing, of course, needs large supplies of paper (and suitable inks) to be of any use. It

Christopher Columbus

Jan 1, 1451

Born a wool merchant's son in Genoa, swims into Portugal in 1476 after his ship is sunk in battle. Conceives of "The Enterprise of the Indies" in 1484 (as a result of his own voyages from Iceland to Guinea and encouraged by Toscanelli's calculations (see above)). fter failing to get financial support from the Portuguese King John, olumbus negotiated the "Contract of Santa Fe" with Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, who were on a roll after evicting the Moors (and Jews) from their last Spani

Fall of Constantinople

Jan 1, 1453

Fall of Constantinople to the armies of Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II the end of a 1,129 year empire that, along with the Muslim centres of Baghdad and Cordoba, had kept some of the classical flame alight during the European dark ages. In Constantinople on the evening of the 28 May Constantine XI, eightieth Emperor of Byzantium and thousands of his subjects gathered in the the great church of Santa Sophia, for what became the last Christian service to be held there.

Maximilian I

Nov 9, 1459

Arranger of marriages for the greater territorial glory of the Habsburg line. Acquired the Low Countries by marrying Mary of Burgundy, married off son Philip (the Handsome) to Joanna of Castile (heir to the Spanish throne and also barking mad the throne skipped her and went to son Charles - the Emperor Charles V). Undertook long wars in Hungary and Italy to further extend the "family" lands. All of which bequeathed to grandson Charles V the largest empire since Rome, and one which proved c

The Pazzi Conspiracy

Jan 1, 1478

Brothers from an old rival Florentine banking family to the Medici, Francesco and Girolamo Pazzi, have a go (with the secret support of Pope Sixtus IV (della Rovere)) at killing Giuliano and (Magnificent) brother Lorenzo de Medici in the Florence Duomo, but the latter escapes with the help of Angelo Poliziano, and the Pazzi clan are systematically eliminated.

Martin Luther

Jan 1, 1483

On 31 October 1517, married Augustinian monk Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church lived i nWittenberg the launch of the Reformation and the Protestant Movement which facilitated by the recent inventions of printing and cheap paper, was to sweep Northern Europe.

Raphael Sanzio

Nov 9, 1483

Leading late renaissance painter Painted "The Mute Woman" in Urbino Palace (Medici) Pope Leo X in the Uffizi and much much more (especially La Stanza della Segnatura in Rome which includes the famous "School of Athens"). Portraited alluringly by Pinturicchio in one of the Piccolomini Library frescos in the Siena Duomo, and by himself in the School of Athens fresco and several self portraits.

Formation of the British East India Company

Dec 31, 1600

On 31 December 1600 England's Queen Elizabeth I (1533 - 1558 - 1603 (70)) signed the Royal Charter which created the British East India Company. Originally a monopoly joint stock trading company, it grew to being the administrator of the whole of India until in the wake of the rebellion of 1857, India was made a Crown Colony and the assets of the Company were taken over by the British Government.